The butt.
It’s had its place in pop culture, literature, and even music for as long as we can remember.
Most of us are familiar with “Baby Got Back“, Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s infamous ode to voluptuous bottoms and Khia’s descriptive “My Neck, My Back“.
But did you know that the musical history surrounding the humble heinie goes back beyond the 20th century?
Let’s talk about it.
Mozart. We know him as the gifted composer of many beautiful lullabies, calming canons, and serene symphonies.
However, the creator of what you would think to be the most inoffensive music ever actually had quite the potty mouth.
Don’t believe me?
In the 1780’s, Mozart came up with the masterpieces, “Leck mich im Arsch” (Kiss My Ass) and “Bona Nox”, a piece that included these lyrics:
Good night, good night,
Shit in your bed and make it burst.
Good night, sleep tight,
And stick your ass to your mouth.
That wasn’t the end of it, though.
Around the time Mozart produced his provocative pieces composer Wenzel Trnka wrote “Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber”(Lick My Ass Nice And Clean). It made Mozart’s lyrics look like amateur hour:
Lick my arse nicely,
lick it nice and clean,
nice and clean, lick my arse.
That’s a greasy desire,
nicely buttered,
like the licking of roast meat, my daily activity.
Three will lick more than two,
come on, just try it,
and lick, lick, lick.
Everybody lick their arse for themselves.
Mozart’s pieces were said were said to be a result of his enjoyment of scatological humor. This humor was said to be quite typical of the time, often finding its way into German theater and entertainment. Historians have also found multiple instances of butt-related humor in Germanic folklore and texts.
Famed German theologian and figurehead of the protestant reformation, Martin Luther, was known to have an appreciation for this rude humor.
Butt the fun doesn’t end there.
Hieronymus Bosch, the renowned Dutch painter, also made a lasting contribution to the early-modern musical history of the tuchus.
Bosch was known for creating fantastical paintings that often involved religious allegories and narratives. His most famous painting, “The Garden Of Earthly Delights” (thought to be painted between 1490 and 1510) is an incredibly detailed triptych showing the contrasting realms of heaven and hell. In it you can find everything from man-eating bird kings to pig nuns.
AND BUTTS.
Lots of them, actually.
Anyway, one of these numerous butts stands out. If you look closely in the third panel of the triptych that depicts hell, you will see this unfortunate fellow’s derriere.
But it isn’t just ANY derriere…this behind has MUSIC on it.
What does this backside-bound music sound like?, you think to yourself.
Will I ever know?
Well, no need to wonder any longer.
Amelia Hamrick, a student at Oklahoma Christian University decided to transcribe the piece to modern notation.
The resulting piece is hauntingly beautiful. It is definitely not something I would associate with being located in this particular location.
So yeah. Music about (and on?) the rump, fanny, posterior, backside, bum, derriere, rear–whatever you want to call it, has been around forever.
And now my search history is scarred forever….at least I never have to look up a synonym for “butt” ever again.
Do you have anything to add to this, er, oddly specific topic?
Further Reading:
Some modern songs about butts
https://www.cracked.com/blog/the-10-bootiest-songs-of-all-time/
The 10 most butt references per second in modern music history
https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/visual-history-butts-album-covers/
A visual history of butts on album covers
Ha! Best one yet! What an interesting read! Also, what a relaxing tune. Tina Belcher would highly approve.
Also, if you listen closely, you can hear ‘my humps, my humps my humps, my lovely lady lumps.’ Try fitting it in. Do it.